Chapter 68 (Patreon)

Early that morning, Mihawk trained alone in the courtyard of the Nerona residence.

Heavy snow covered the ground beneath his feet as he drove one fist forward after another, each movement steady and controlled.

The cold air should have been enough to numb his skin, especially now that the snow had begun to melt, but Mihawk barely noticed it. His thoughts were still fixed on the previous night, and every time the memories returned, a faint smile appeared on his face.

Nothing improper had happened between him and Hinata.

They had simply stayed together until late at night, speaking more honestly than they ever had before. Even so, the distance between them had become so small that Mihawk could still remember the warmth of her body beside him.

Ever since waking up, he had been unable to settle down.

Even his usual sword meditation had failed to clear his mind, so he had finally come outside to train. He had hoped the cold morning air would help him regain his composure.

Mihawk had no idea how long he continued practicing.

It was only when his Observation Haki sensed Hinata beginning to wake inside the house that he finally stopped. Lowering his fists, he turned and headed indoors.

Hinata was standing in the washroom, brushing her teeth. White foam clung to the corners of her mouth.

Looking through the mirror, she noticed Mihawk leaning against the doorway with his arms folded. A teasing smile rested on his face.

The instant their eyes met, Hinata’s face turned bright red. A faint cloud of steam almost seemed to rise from the top of her head.

Memories of the previous night immediately rushed back to her—the long conversation they had shared, how close they had been sitting, and the gentle kiss Mihawk had placed on her forehead before saying goodnight.

“...Ah.”

With a dull thud, Hinata collapsed before Mihawk’s widened eyes. Her pale eyes had turned into spirals.

Mihawk’s expression changed at once.

He had teased her too much.

He quickly stepped forward and caught her before her head could strike the floor.

Even after fainting, Hinata’s eyes remained half-open, the strange spiral patterns inside them leaving Mihawk unsure whether he should laugh or worry.

It had been years since she had become this overwhelmed.

The last time had been when Mihawk unexpectedly praised her after training and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.

After spending so many years together, Hinata had gradually become more resistant to his teasing. There had even been several occasions when she had gathered the courage to approach him first.

Otherwise, she never would have managed to confess that she wanted to remain by his side forever.

Even so, all Mihawk had done this morning was smile at her, and that alone had been enough to make her faint from embarrassment.

He should have known better than to tease her again so soon after the previous night.

After wiping the foam from the corners of Hinata’s mouth, Mihawk carried her back to the bedroom and carefully laid her on the bed.

Judging from past experience, she would need at least twenty minutes before waking up.

Mihawk left the room and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Around ten minutes later, while he was cooking porridge, his Observation Haki detected Hinata’s chakra beginning to stir.

“M-Mihawk-kun...”

Nearly another ten minutes passed before Hinata’s timid voice came from behind him.

Mihawk turned around.

Hinata stood at the kitchen entrance with her head lowered. She nervously pressed her index fingers together, and her face was still bright red.

After drying his hands, Mihawk walked over and gently placed one hand on her head. He looked into her pale eyes and smiled.

“Hinata, looking at me like that is going to hurt my feelings. You don’t dislike me now, do you?”

“No!”

His teasing words struck Hinata harder than he had expected.

The color immediately drained from her face as she shook her head again and again.

“I-I would never dislike Mihawk-kun!”

Moisture quickly gathered in her eyes, and it looked as though she might begin crying at any moment.

Mihawk immediately realized that he had made a mistake.

“I was joking.”

He pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her hair.

“Don’t cry. I know how much you care about me. I would never seriously believe otherwise.”

Hinata remained against his chest and slowly calmed down as she listened to his steady heartbeat.

Hoping to improve her mood, Mihawk lowered his head slightly and chuckled.

“Besides, you were brave enough to tell me everything in your heart last night. How could I misunderstand you after that?”

“Mihawk-kun... you’re mean.”

Hinata rarely glared at him, but this time she lightly struck his chest with her fist.

Despite her complaint, a quiet laugh escaped her lips.

Mihawk tightened his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head, smiling without saying anything else.

Hinata smiled as well and remained in his embrace.

After that morning, their relationship became even closer. The awkwardness between them gradually disappeared, and being together began to feel completely natural.

Before anyone realized it, another two years had passed.

Konoha itself had not changed much during that time.

The village streets remained crowded and lively. The Hokage Monument continued to watch over the village from above, while shinobi passed through the gates each day to begin or complete their missions.

The people living within the village, however, had continued to change.

The elderly had gained a few more wrinkles. The adults had become calmer and more dependable, while the young shinobi of the previous generation had lost much of their former recklessness and grown increasingly mature.

At the same time, an even younger generation was steadily beginning to take their place.

Now sixteen years old, the members of Konoha’s new generation could no longer be treated as children. They had become capable shinobi in their own right.

Among the Konoha Twelve, Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura had completely left their childish appearances behind.

Just as expected, Sakura had become Tsunade’s apprentice. Under the Fifth Hokage’s guidance, she had developed the confidence and determination expected of a skilled medical-nin.

Ino had also grown taller and carried herself with far more maturity than before.

Tenten had become calmer and more graceful as well, while still carrying the confidence of an experienced weapons specialist.

However, Hinata had changed more than any of them.

Four years earlier, Hinata had been a petite girl standing only 148.3 centimeters tall. With her shy expression and delicate appearance, she had almost looked like a small doll.

Two years ago, she had experienced a sudden growth spurt and reached 161 centimeters.

Now, two years later, she stood at 162 centimeters.

Although her height had only increased slightly during those two years, the rest of her had changed considerably. Her once-fragile appearance had been replaced by the quiet confidence of a capable teenage kunoichi.

Her movements were steadier, her expression was calmer, and the determination in her pale eyes had become much stronger than before.

Then there was Hanabi.

Before anyone noticed, she had already turned eleven years old.

Her height had increased from 132.4 centimeters to 145.4 centimeters, leaving her less than three centimeters shorter than Hinata had been at twelve.

Her long black hair carried a faint brown shade beneath the sunlight. Having started imitating Mihawk’s choice of clothing, she now regularly wore a golden-brown kimono.

Even so, her lively and energetic personality had not changed at all.

Mihawk’s appearance had also changed considerably during those two years.

The most obvious difference was his height, which had increased to 180 centimeters.

The remaining traces of childhood had disappeared from his handsome features, leaving him with a calmer and more mature appearance. His naturally distant expression had also become more composed with age.

He continued to wear the same simple black kimono he had favored for years, with an ordinary katana resting at his waist.

With his calm gaze and relaxed posture, Nerona Mihawk now looked every bit like a swordsman who had already found the path he intended to follow.